Fairbanks man summits Everest

Turner is one of two dozen climbers on the 2009 Himalayan Experience expedition led by Russell Brice. The international expedition is being captured on film for the 2009 season of "Everest: Beyond the Limit," a reality series on the Discovery Channel.

The climb was staged from Nepal, taking a popular route along Everest's southeast ridge. Turner used supplemental oxygen above 24,300 feet to reach the summit at 29,035 feet.

The former Bering Sea crab fisherman attempted to summit Denali in 2007 and 2008 but was turned back by stormy weather. Not this time, although it looked for a while that weather again might stop Turner short of the summit. Late Friday, strong winds ravaged climbers going for the peak. Turner said from a satellite phone at Camp 4, located at about 26,000 feet, that some climbers had decided to turn back.

"It was blowing about 40 and cloudy," Turner said. "I got a few photos. It was beautiful. I was on top of the world. It was the best feeling in my life, other than having a baby."

Turner said he was exhausted and frostbitten on his cheeks, and planned to rest before returning to Camp 2.